Textile fiber bale opener unit and systems embodying same



L. PLATT ET AL May 7,1968

I TEXTILE FIBER BALE OPENER UNIT AND SYSTEMS EMBODYING SAME Filed Oct.1, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 7, 1968 PLATT ET AL 3,381,341 TEXTILE FIBERBALE OPENER UNIT AND SYSTEMS EMBODYING SAME Filed Oct. 1, 1964 5Sheets-Sheet 2 May 7, 1968 PLATT ET AL TEXTILE FIBER BALE OPENER UNITAND SYSTEMS EMBODYING SAME Filed Oct. 1. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 UnitedStates Patent 3,381,341 TEXTILE FIBER BALE OPENER UNll AND SYSTEMSElldltODYiNG SAME Louis Platt, Seneca, and James K. Merck, Pendlcton,SAIL, assignors to Maremont Corporation, Chicago, lil., a corporation ofIllinois Filed Oct. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 400,672 14 Claims. (Cl. 19-80)This invention relates to the opening of bales of textile fiber as wellas the blending of fibers opened from a plurality of such bales.

The opening, cleaning and blending of bales of textile fiber has Ion-gbeen a problem in the art, particularly when the accurate blending of avariety of types of textile fibers is involved, and the opened fibersare to be fed almost in individually separated fiber directly to theinput of a card without the prior formation of a lap or other fiberpackage. With such an arrangement, it is of the greatest importance thatthe fiber be both cleaned and opened to a high degree so that accurateblending may be achieved in an air stream.

Attempts have been made to solve the problem of providing suitablecommercial apparatus capable of automatic operation to provide thedesired result, but with indifferent success. This has been due to avariety of rea sons, principally involving the inability of heretoforeknown openers to pick the fibers from the bale in sulficiently open formand at a uniform rate especially when progressing from a full to anempty bale.

It is a major object of the present invention to deal with theseproblems by providing a novel bale opener apparatus capable of releasingtextile fibers from a bale almost as individual fibers into an airstream at a uniform rate during the entire time the bale is beingopened.

It is another object of the invention simultaneously to clean the fibersbeing released from the bale so that they may be fed directly tosubsequent processing apparatus such as a card.

It is still another object of the invention to make possible theaccurate blending of a variety of fibers by simultaneously and at auniform rate removing fibers from a plurality of bales of differingtypes.

In general, these objects of the invention are met by providing a noveltextile fiber bale opener and cleaner unit having a plurality of spacedgrid bars supporting for reciprocating movements the bottom surface of abale to be opened at a predetermined spacing from the fiber removingsurface of a rotating beater cylinder and having a scarifying means,such as a roll with lugs extending between the grid bars to maintain thebottom of the bale in suitably disturbed condition for uniform fiberremoval by the beater cylinder. Either the projection of the scarifyingmeans relative to the grid bars or the spacing of the beater cylinderstherebeneath or both is varied with decreasing bale thickness sensed bysuitable means, for example, such as a photocell for control to providesuch varied spacing for continued fiber removal. Cleaning means, such asa perforated surface associated with a suction system, is positionedadjacent the beater cylinder continuously to remove alien material fromthe fibers.

More specifically, a plurality of such opener units may be provided, oneat each of a plurality of bale opening stations, to produce a completeopener, cleaner and blender system with successive of said stationshaving successively decreased predetermined spacing between their gridbars and cylinders or increased projection of the scarifying means orboth, and bale advancing means responsive to a predetermined thicknessof a bale may be provided for simultaneously advancing a bale at each ofsaid stations from a preceding to a succeeding station so ice that thefibers from different bales may be blended, for example.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof,together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a complete opener and blender systemaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an opener unit according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the opener unit of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an electrical circuit diagram of the opener and blender systemof FIGS. 1 and 2.

In general, the opener and cleaner unit of the invention, as best shownin FIGS. 3 and 4, includes a rotating beater cylinder 12, preferably ofa type covered with strip sheet metal having a multiplicity of smalltooth-like projections 14; a plurality of horizontally spaced grid bars20 having a predetermined spacing above cylinder 12 to support the lowersurface of a textile fiber bale B above projections 14; a plurality ofhorizontal spaced grid bars tioned at each side of the grid bars forreciprocating the lower surface of bale B back and forth along grid bars20 to remove fibers therefrom essentially in individual fiber form andto introduce them into a conveying air stream. A rotatable scarifyingroll 42 has lugs 44 which extend upwardly between grid bars 20 intoscarifying contact with the lower surface of a bale B as it isreciprocated back and forth across the grid bars to maintain a suitablydisturbed surface for removal by cylinder projections 14 as the bale iscontinuously reduced in thickness. Sensing means, such as photocells 51,52, 53, 54 are provided for sensing the thickness of a bale foroperating control means such as grid bar and scarifying roll adjustermotor 22 or conveyor belts 32, 34 for advancing a bale to a succeedingopener unit.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a high capacity bale opener, cleaner andblender system is provided by utilizing a number of the opener units ofthe invention shown as arranged in a double series together withsuitable conveyor belts 311, 32, 3d, 36, 37, and 38 and 31, 32, 34',36', 37 and 33 controlled by photocells 46-, 47, 43, 51-54 for advancinga bale B, B along each of the series from an opener unit having agreater grid bar cylinder spacing to one having a smaller such spacingor from one having a lesser scarifying roll projection to one having agreater scarifying roll projection, or both, as the bale is reduced inthickness (FIG. 2), until it is eventually so reduced as to be passed toa common cross output: conveyor 39, the fibers from the openers havingbeen delivered to a pneumatic conveyor 72 for each series of openers andcom bined in a common condenser 73 for feeding to a card, for example.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the apparatus of theinvention, each opener unit as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is provided withframe side members lid and 11 supporting cylinder shaft 13 in suitablebearings. Preferably cylinder shaft 13 is driven through .a slip clutch15 by a V-belt drive 15 from a suitable motor 17 which may be common toa series of units if desired. The surface of cylinder 12 is preferablycovered with so-called metallic card clothing consisting of a helicallywound sheet metal with toothed projections 14 providing a multiplicityof said projections extending around the cylinder and axially for theentire length thereof. The grid bars 20 are spaced above the surface ofcylinder 12 and extend generally horizontally across the top of thecylinder in a direction perpendicular to its axis. The grid bars arerelatively narrow, and spaced from one another for a substantialdistance, and extend for the axial length of cylinder 12 to support thelower surface of a bale B spaced a predetermined distance above thebeater cylinder surface for the individual fiber removal actioncharacteristic of the apparatus of the invention.

The grid bars 24) are mounted at their ends on transverse support rods21 which may be adjustably moved vertically by adjusting motor 22through suitable mechanical connections including horizontal shaft 23driving through suitable bevel gears 24, threaded vertical shafts 25which are received in cooperating internally threaded members carried ontransversal support rods 21.

Transverse scarifying roll 42 with its lugs as that extend upwardlythrough the spaces between the grid bars 20 extends along one side ofcylinder 12 and is carried in suitable bearings 41 mounted for verticalmovement in side frames and 11, such being moved with grid bars byhorizontal shaft 23 driving through suitable bevel gears 43 threadedvertical shafts 45 which are received in cooperating internally threadedportions of bearings 41. Grid bars 20 and scarifying roll 42 may bearranged for movement independently of one another if desired, as bydisconnecting one of their driving bevel gears. Scarifying roll 42 isdriven by a reversing motor 56 by a sprocket and chain drive 57,controlled as hereinafter more fully explained.

Conveyors 32 and 34 are provided for reciprocating a bale B over gridbars 20 and for advancing said bale from an opener unit to discharge orto a suceeding unit, such conveyors having a plurality of pins 33 ontheir upper surface and being carried by rolls 35 driven by motor 56 bysuitable chain and sprocket drives 53, controlled as hereinafter rn-orefully explained.

The cleaning function of the opener unit of the invention is provided bya suction duct 60 aving an arcuate surface 61 with perforations 62 whichextends adjacent to the downwardly moving surface of cylinder i2 alongits entire axial length, the duct 60 being connected to a suitablesuction system (not shown) to remove foreign matter from the fiberswhile they are carried past perforations 62 on the projections 14 ofcylinder 12. Preferably, duct 60 is pivoted on shaft 64 for swingingmovement of its upper portion away from cylinder 14 to avoid machinedamage should a mass of fiber attempt to pass through the apparatus,spring 65 being provided normally to maintain said duct in its operatingposition as shown. A stripper edge 67 is provided adjacent the lowerside of cylinder 12, such edge forming the uppermost edge of a wall 68,which, together with a bottom Wall 76, forms a branch duct connecting toa main duct 72 which may be utilized to connect the branch ducts of anumber of opener units for combining and blending their outputs.Preferably, an adjustable end portion 74 swingably mounted on the upperend of lower wall is provided to underlie the suction duct 60 and toprovide an inlet at for air flow downwardly through the branch ductdefined by walls 68 and 70 to carry released and opened fiberstherethrough to main duct 72 and condenser 73.

Returning to the showing of FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein are shown fouropening units as above described, a common motor 17 drives all of thebeater cylinders through V-belt drive 16, while all of the aprons aredriven by chain and sprocket drive 58. The common ducts 72 of bothseries of openers are led to a conventional condenser 73 having adriving motor 76.

Photocells 46, 4'7 and 48 are located, respectively, ad jacent the inputend of conveyor 32, adjacent the output end of conveyor 38, andgenerally centrally of conveyor 34 with photocell 47 located at a lesserheight above the level of said conveyors than are photocells 46 and 48,for reasons hereinafter described.

The first of the opener units of the series is preceded by a loadingconveyor 31 driven by a motor 78; and the last of the opener units isfollowed by a transversely extending sensing plate 8t} having a switch82 associated therewith.

An electrical drive and control system is provided for the opener andblender apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings,only those connections being shown which are believed necessary for afull understanding of the invention, with relays and their contactsbeing similarly numbered with further individual identifying referencenumerals.

In FIG. 5, the various electrical elements are shown connected betweentwo circuit lines 84-86.

With the apparatus in operation as controlled by the momentary startingswitch contacts 88-1 and 38-2 and stop switch tl, the energizingelements which control the normal operation of the apparatus arephotocells 46, 47 and 48, herein depicted as switches since suchelements are well known to those skilled in the electrical control art.

As shown in FIG. 5, normally open momentary starting contacts 88-1 areconnected in series therewith between lines 34 and 86 with beater motor17 and relay operated timer 92. Normally open contacts 93-1 of relayoperated timer 93 are connected in parallel with the momentary startingswitch contacts 88-1 to perform a holding function. Normally openmomentary starting contacts -2 are in series with normally closedmomentary stop contacts 96, normally open contacts 92-1 of timer 92 andthe relay operated timer coil 93. Holding contacts 93-4 are providedacross starting contacts 38-2.

Condenser motor '76 is connected in series with contacts 92-2 of timercoil 93 across lines 84, 86.

Apron drive motor 55 has its common side connected to line 86, itsforward terminal 56-1 being in series with one side of normally opencontacts 95-3 of reversing r relay 95 and its reverse terminal 56-2 inseries with one side of normally closed contacts 95-4 of said reversingrelayv The other side of contacts 95-3 and 95-4 are connected togetherin series with contacts 93-2 of timer and contacts 92-3 of timer 92 toline 84. Reversing relay $5 has its common terminal connected to line86, its forward terminal 95-1 connected to line 84 in series withnormally open photocell contacts 46, and its reverse terminal connectedto line 34 in series with both photocell contacts 47 and pivot plateswitch contacts 82.

Loader motor 78 is connected in series with photocell contacts 48 aswell as with normally closed contacts 95-5 of reversing relay 95 andnormally open contacts 96-1 of a relay coil 96 in parallel with loadermotor 78, reversing relay coil contacts 95-5 and its own contacts 96-1.A normally open momentary manual switch 98 is provided in parallel withphotocell contacts 48.

In the operation of the opener unit of the invention, fiber removal fromthe bale is accomplished as a result of three interdependent functions:air currents created by the beater cylinder 12 and the pneumatic stockremoval system, including condenser 73; the scarifying roll 42 whichdisturbs the under surface of the bale, thus permitting the air currentsto have greater effect in pulling the fibers into the path of the teethon the beater cylinder which removes fibers in small increments, so thatby the time the fibers are released from the beater cylinder they areessentially in individual fiber state.

It is of particular importance to the operation of the apparatus of theinvention that there exist a spacing of at least about /2 inch betweenthe top of the grid bars 2% and the top of the beater cylinder 12 whichdetermines the spacing between the bottom of the bale and the beatercylinder. It is also important that either such spacing or theprojection of scarifying roll lugs 44 above the grid bars be adjustable.Setting may be varied by adjusting the grid and scarifying roll to theheater and such may be accomplished by direct actuation of operatingmotor 22 in response to signals from photocells 51-54 (FIG. 4) or byusing a series of opener units and advancing a bale therealong (FIGS. 1and 2). In the latter case, a typical setting with variable gridbar-beater cylinder spacing the grid bars at the first station are setat about 1 inch and progressively decreased down to the last stationwhere the setting is about /2 inch. With variable grid barscarifyingroll setting, the projection of the scarifying roll lugs will increaseat successive stations. The progressively varied setting in accordancewith the teachings of the present invention compensates in a uniquemanner for the progressively diminishing bale thickness and makespossible fiber removal at a uniform rate as is not only highlydesirable, but is essential for accurate bale blending.

Another important feature of the invention is the reversal of rotationof scarifying roll 42 as the direction of movement of the bale reversesas it is carried by the conveyors. Thus the periphery of the scarifyingroll is always moving in the same direction as that of the bottomsurface of the bale. The horizontal traversing movement of the bale ispreferably faster than the peripheral speed of the roll by a ratio ofabout 1 /2-2 /2 to 1 for most desirable disturbing action for mostefiicient operation.

Referring to the control system for the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 asshown in FIG. 5, the photocell 46 at the first opener unit of theapparatus and the photocell 47 at the last opener unit control thetraversing and advancing movement of the bales as hereinafter explainedin detail. The height of the photocell 47 is vertically adjustable so asto establish the maximum size of the bale to be fed onto the crossconveyor 39. As intermediate photocell 48 is positioned at the secondopener unit at such a level that it is always below the level of thebales at the first and second stations for operating loader motor 78.

Assuming that bales are positioned as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, theapparatus of the invention is put into operation by pushing the startpushbutton to momentarily close starting contacts 88-1 and 2 to energizethe beater cylinder motor 17 and the relay operated timer 92, theclosing of contacts 92-2 of which causes the condenser motor 76 to beenergized. At the same time, with the relay operated timer 92 operated,the relay operated stop motion timer 93 will also be energized to lockin starting contacts 88-1, 88-2 and close contacts 93-2. After apredetermined time delay, the timer contact 92-3 closes and the conveyordrive motor 56 will start up. (The direction of rotation motor 56 isdependent upon the state of the reversing relay 95.) As shown in FIG. 5the conveyor drive motor 56 will run in the reverse direction until thephoto relay contacts 46 are operated. This will energize relay 95 which,in turn, will cause the conveyor drive motor to reverse direction andmove all the bales carried on the conveyors in the opposite direction.The conveyor drive motor 56 Will continue to run in this direction untilthe photo relay contacts 47 are operated, at which time reversing relay95 will again reverse direction of the conveyor drive motor.

This reciprocating movement of each bale (except the one on the loadingconveyor 31), back and forth across an opener unit for continuousremoval of fiber and reduction in thickness of the bale continues untilthe bale at the last station is of such a reduced height that thephotocell contacts 47 will not be interrupted by that bales advance, sothat it and all of the other bales as well con tinue to advance. Whenthis occurs, the last hole as it passes over plate 80 will operate theplate switch 82, preventing the photocell 47 from operating conveyormotor 56 in its reverse direction.

As the advance of bales continues, the photocell 48 operates when therearmost bale has advanced beyond it to energize relay coil 96 to closeits contact 96-1 in series with loader motor 78. When the bales haveadvanced sufiiciently to operate photocell 47, reversing of thedirection of bale movement will take place as explained above. Whensufficient reverse movement has occurred to again operate photocell 46,not only will the bales again advance but loader motor 78 will beoperated, since its contacts 96-1 are closed and its contacts 95-5 haveclosed by reason of the action of the reversing relay 95 in the forwarddirection of conveyor motor 56. The bale on the loader conveyor 31 willbe advanced simultaneously with the advance of the other bales to thefirst opening unit and the apparatus will again take up itsreciprocating movement as explained above. All of the bales having beenadvanced and each opener unit being occupied by a bale, a new bale maythen be placed on loader conveyor 31, and that conveyor advanced toready the new bale for the next automated advance of all of the bales bymeans of manual loader switch 98. Bales may be varied as loaded forblending.

In stopping the machine, the stop contacts are momentarily opened todeenergize the conveyor, cylinder and condenser motors.

Thus it will be seen that the invention provides both a novel textilefiber bale opener and cleaner unit and systems useful for blendingembodying it. Various modifications of the invention within the spiritof the invention and the scope of the appended claims will be apparentto those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A textile fiber bale opener comprising a rotary beater cylinder,

bale support means supporting a surface of a bale at a predeterminedspacing from the surface of said cylinder,

reciprocating means for moving a surface of a bale back and forth pastsaid cylinder and spaced from said cylinder to remove fibers therefromand reduce the thickness of said bale,

sensing means for sensing a predetermined thickness of a bale less thanthe thickness of a bale delivered to said opener as it is so moved.

control means responsive to said sensing means connected to said supportmeans for adjusting the bale support means relative to the surface ofthe cylinder to provide a decrease in the predetermined spacing upon areduction in the thickness of a bale.

2. A textile fiber bale opener comprising a plurality of successivelyarranged bale opening stations, each station including a rotary beatercylinder and bale reciprocating means for moving a bale back and forthpast said cylinder to remove fibers therefrom and reduce the thicknessof said bale,

sensing means at at least said one of said stations responsive to apredetermined maximum thickness of a bale less than the usual thicknessof a bale as delivered to one of said stations,

bale advancing means responsive to said sensing means for simultaneouslyadvancing a bale at each of said stations from a preceding to asucceeding station upon sensing predetermined maximum thickness at saidone of said stations.

3. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 2, further includingconveyor means common to all of said stations for collecting fiberstherefrom.

4. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 3 wherein saidconveyor means is pneumatic.

5. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 2, wherein secondsensing means are provided for sensing a bale being advanced from saidone station, and wherein said bale advancing means is responsivethereto.

6. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 5, wherein loadingmeans are provided for loading a bale on the first of said stations, andsaid loading means is re sponsive to said second sensing means.

7. A textile fiber bale opener comprising a plurality of successivelyarranged bale opening stations, each station including a rotary beatercylinder having a multiplicity of projections on its surface forremoving fibers from a bale surface,

a plurality of transversely spaced grid bars extending longitudinally ina horizontal plane generally perpendicular to the axis of said cylinderand having a predetermined spacing above said cylinder supporting thelower surface of a bale above the projections, with successive of saidstations having suc cessively decreased predetermined spacing,

bale reciprocating means for moving a bale back and forth across saidstation in a direction longitudinally of said grid bars and in contacttherewith including reciprocating conveyor means extending between eachof said cylinders,

sensing means responsive to a predetermined maximum thickness of a baleless than the usual thickness of a bale as delivered to at least one ofsaid stations,

bale advancing means responsive to said sensing means for simultaneouslyadvancing a bale at each of said stations from a preceding to asucceeding station, and

bale output sensing means following the last of said conveyor means insaid plurality of bale opening stations, said advancing means beingresponsive to said bale output sensing means to advance a bale from saidlast conveyor means.

8. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 7, further includingloading conveyor means in advance of the first of said reciprocatingconveyor means of said plurality of bale opening stations, and sensingmeans responsive to the bale condition at one of said stations foradvancing said loading conveyor means to load a bale on said firstreciprocating conveyor.

9. A textile fiber 'bale opener comprising a rotary beater cylinder,

bale support means supporting a surface of a bale spaced from thesurface of said cylinder,

scarifying roll means mounted beneath said bale support means having aplurality of scarifying lugs extending upwardly between said balesupport means and projecting therebeyond a predetermined distance intoscarifying contact with the surface of a bale supported on said balesupport means,

reciprocating means for moving a surface of a bale back and forth pastsaid cylinder and spaced from said cylinder to remove fibers therefromand reduce the thickness of said bale,

sensing means for sensing a predetermined thickness of a bale less thanthe thickness of a bale delivered to said opener as it is so moved,

control means responsive to said sensing means providing an increasedpredetermined distance between said bale support means and saidscarifying roll means upon a reduction in the thickness of a bale.

10. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 9, in which saidcontrol means includes means responsive to said sensing means foradjusting said predetermined distance.

11. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 9,

further including -a plurality of opening stations each having -a rotarybeater cylinder, bale supporting means supporting a surface of a balespaced from the surface of said cylinder, scarifying roll means mountedbeneath said bale support means having a plurality of scarifying lugsextending upwardly between said bale support means and projectingtherebeyond a predetermined distance and reciprocating means for movinga surface of a bale back and forth past said cylinder and spaced fromsaid cylinder to remove fibers therefrom and reduce the thickness ofsaid bale, with successive of said stations having successivelyincreased predetermined distances, and advancing means for advancing abale from a preceding to a succeeding station, wherein said controlmeans is operatively connected to said advancing means.

12. A textile fiber bale opener comprising a plurality of successivelyarranged bale opening stations, each station including a rotary beatercylinder having a multiplicity of projections on its surface forremoving fibers from a bale surface,

a plurality of transversely spaced grid bars extending longitudinally ina horizontal plane generally perpendicular to the axis of said cylinderand spaced above said cylinder supporting the lower surface of a baleabove the projections,

scarifying roll means mounted beneath said grid bars having a pluralityof scarifying lugs extending upwardly between said grid bars andprojecting therebeyond a predetermined distance with successive of saidstations having an increased predetermined distance,

bale reciprocating means for moving a bale back and forth across saidstation in a direction longitudinally of said grid bars and in contacttherewith,

sensing means responsive to a predetermined maximum thickness of a baleless than the usual thickness of a bale as delivered to at least one ofsaid stations,

bale advancing means responsive to said sensing means for simultaneouslyadvancing a bale at each of said stations from a preceding to asucceeding station.

13. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 12, wherein saidbale reciprocating means includes reciprocating conveyor means extendingbetween each of said cylinders, and wherein bale output sensing meansare provided following the last of said conveyor means in said pluralityof bale opening stations, said advancing means being responsive to saidbale output sensing means to advance a bale from said last conveyormeans.

14. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 13, furtherincluding loading conveyor means in advance of the first of saidreciprocating conveyor means of said plurality of bale opening stations,and sensing means responsive to the bale condition at one of saidstations for advancing said loading conveyor means to load a bale onsaid first reciprocating conveyor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,938, 239 5/1960 Leineweber etal. 19-80 3,141,199 7/1964 Hilt et al. 19--145.5 3,208,106 5/1965Leineweber et al. 19'80 3,251,096 5/1966 Rapp 19-80 FOREIGN PATENTS1,334,207 6/1963 France.

121,365 4/1958 U.S.S.R.

83 8,793 6/ 1960 Great Britain.

DORSEY NEWTON, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATE PATENTOFFTCE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,381,341May 7, 1968 Louis Platt et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

1 fifii b w a llne 23, cance "a plurallty of horizontal spaced 1 ars anlnsert a d a palr of conveyor belts 32, 34%;

p 51 Column 6, l1ne 4Q cancel "sald", first occurrence;

line 52, before "one" inser said Signed and sealed this 30th day ofSeptember 1969.

(SEAL) figqm a v Edwin! M. Fletcher, Jr U WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

1. A TEXTILE FIBER BALE OPENER COMPRISING A ROTARY BEATER CYLINDER, BALESUPPORT MEANS SUPPORTING A SURFACE OF A BALE AT A PREDETERMINED SPACINGFROM THE SURFACE OF SAID CYLINDER, RECIPROCATING MEANS FOR MOVING ASURFACE OF A BALE BACK AND FORTH PAST SAID CYLINDER AND SPACED FROM SAIDCYLINDER TO REMOVE FIBERS THEREFROM AND REDUCE THE THICKNESS OF SAIDBALE, SENSING MEANS FOR SENSING A PREDETERMINED THICKNESS OF A BALE LESSTHAN THE THICKNESS OF A BALE DELIVERED TO SAID OPENER AS IT IS SO MOVED.CONTROL MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID SENSING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORTMEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE BALE SUPPORT MEANS RELATIVE TO THE SURFACE OFTHE CYLINDER TO PROVIDE A DECREASE IN THE PREDETERMINED SPACING UPON AREDUCTION IN THE THICKNESS OF A BALE.